Acute Care Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant - Palliative Medicine, Full-time, Days

Northwestern Medicine seeks an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant to join our Palliative Medicine team. You will work collaboratively with physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses, and social workers to deliver comprehensive, compassionate patient care to patients with serious illnesses and their families. This role combines inpatient and ambulatory responsibilities, including rotating inpatient coverage, shared call duties, goals-of-care discussions, and complex care planning.

Clinical Setting

You will provide coverage across three locations: Lake Forest, Grayslake, and Glenview, typically rotating between two primary sites including Lake Forest and one additional regional location. Inpatient census averages 20 to 30 patients shared among three providers. Outpatient practice averages 6 to 7 patients per day in 60-minute appointment slots.

Schedule

• Monday through Friday with flexible scheduling options, including four 10-hour days per week or 9-hour days with one scheduled day off each pay period
• Inpatient service weeks typically structured as 8-hour shifts
• Shared call coverage Monday through Sunday approximately every 6 to 7 weeks
• Two scheduled days off following each call week

Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive health assessments including patient histories and physical examinations
• Provide direct clinical care to assigned patient populations
• Prescribe medications and therapies; order and interpret laboratory tests, imaging, and procedures according to clinical privileges
• Evaluate patients to determine need for further health care
• Provide comprehensive teaching to patients and families
• Document all care, education, and procedures in the medical record
• Refer to other disciplines as appropriate and serve as consultant in areas of expertise
• Integrate research-based knowledge and clinical expertise in clinical decision-making
• Advocate for patients, families, coworkers, and the community
• Participate in unit, departmental, divisional, or hospital committees and task forces
• Mentor graduate students in advanced practice and patient care
• Participate in quality improvement and research initiatives pertinent to palliative medicine
• Maintain professional appearance, manner, and presentation
• Maintain all required certifications and continuing education for licensure and privileging

Required Qualifications

• Master's degree from an accredited school of nursing (for NP applicants) OR Master's degree from an accredited Physician Assistant Program
• For Nurse Practitioners: Acute care certification required (inpatient experience as an NP will be considered in lieu of acute care certification)
• Current RN license in Illinois (for NP applicants)
• Current Advanced Practice Registered Nurse license in Illinois (for NP applicants)
• Certification as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse by a national certifying body approved by the Illinois Department of Regulation APRN Board (for NP applicants)
• For Physician Assistants: Current PA license in Illinois
• Ability to apply for controlled substance license and DEA number
• Privileged and credentialed through Northwestern Medicine Medical Staff Office
• BLS certification issued by the American Heart Association

Preferred Qualifications

• Two or more years of experience
• Experience in palliative care, hospice, geriatric medicine, or hospital medicine

Background Check

Newly hired team members are required to complete a background check including criminal history. Results are evaluated on a case-by-case basis in accordance with local, state, and federal laws, including the Illinois Health Care Worker Background Check Act.

Benefits

Northwestern Medicine offers a comprehensive benefits package including tuition reimbursement, loan forgiveness, 401(k) matching, and lifecycle benefits designed to support physical, emotional, and financial well-being.